Setai San Diego, a Premier Luxury Hotel, Opens December 2008

Setai San Diego, the new 184-room premier luxury hotel located in downtown San Diego's financial district, will open its doors - specifically two custom-made 9,000-pound bronze pivot doors - in early December. Part of the Preferred Hotel Group, Setai San Diego intends to bring the beauty, sophistication and experience of the world's most luxurious contemporary hotels to downtown San Diego.

Designed by the Rockwell Group to be artful in every way, Setai San Diego is a unique extra-sensory experience in art and function, with hundreds of touch points within the new 23-story steel and glass structure. The property will feature luxury amenities such as a world-class spa, gourmet restaurant, exclusive Grand Penthouse, rooftop pool and deck, recording studio, private screening room, and 20,000 square feet of event and meeting space.

"Setai San Diego is the perfect destination for an urban retreat, and we are delighted to be able to offer discerning travelers and luxury-seekers the highest standards in service, design, and amenities," said General Manager Craig Waterman.
In a powerful unity of art and function, Setai San Diego's lobby displays objects and textures that will excite the senses. After entering through one of the massive bronze and exotic wood pivot doors, guests are greeted by black ebony columns adorned with turquoise patina beads, teardrop crystals, Nepali carpets, silver leaf covered walls and shagreen upholstery. Four-dimensional art decorates the lobby in addition to a multi-tier silk chandelier that shimmers in columns of light. When guests ascend a floating staircase to the restaurant they will see artist Ken Gangbar's ceramic "Finn Wave" wall installation. The artwork encompasses hundreds of ceramic "fins" and takes up the entire wall in a fluid, uplifting wave-like motion.

The hotel's 184 rooms, including 37 suites and three penthouse suites, incorporate sophisticated luxury, using elements such as fine custom made linens, leather furniture, rich drapery, Jerusalem bone limestone finishes in the bathrooms, Brazilian walnut flooring, and Sapelli woods. Seventeen (17) one-bedroom suites feature generously sized balconies, outfitted with chaise lounges and providing expansive city views. Twenty (20) larger Luxe Suites come equipped with full Italian kitchens, Miele and Sub Zero appliances, full living rooms, balconies, private bedrooms and baths. South-facing suites feature expansive balconies with floor-to-ceiling NanaWall windows, opening to give guests literally an open wall of stunning city, ocean and bay views.

For the jet-setter seeking the height of luxury, Setai San Diego offers three penthouse suites, including a Grand Penthouse, the most exclusive and largest on the West Coast. In addition to numerous custom made features, the 8,000 square-foot Grand Penthouse consists of three bedrooms and three full baths, a full Italian kitchen, dining room, full bar, six flat screen TVs, and a rooftop patio terrace complete with private sundeck, Jacuzzi soaking tub, chaise-lounge beds, water features, a private massage area, and amazing 360 degree views.

Suite & Tender Bar, Lounge and Restaurant at the Setai San Diego is designed to be the scene and dining destination for locals and travelers alike. Featuring the cuisine of James Beard Award-winning Chef Christopher Lee, Suite & Tender will be a softer, more sophisticated take on the typical steakhouse. Based on a gastro-tourism concept where diners have the chance to create an experience that is completely their own, Suite & Tender will focus on choices and eschew restrictive restaurant standards and rules.

The attention to detail and atmosphere transcends throughout the decor of the restaurant and bar. Designed by renowned interior designer Dodd Mitchell, the interiors incorporate Mitchell's signature style; a blending of the everyday with innovative materials to create seductive and unforgettable spaces.

For guests looking to relax and indulge, SPA at SETAI SAN DIEGO, is an urban oasis with nine personal treatment rooms featuring private steam showers, including two specialty suites (double suites) and private VIP lounge. Arriving at SPA at SETAI SAN DIEGO is a personalized experience, where guests are transported into a world of blended traditions and harmony. SPA at SETAI SAN DIEGO will feature design and treatment offerings based on the cultural and aesthetic influences of Southeast Asia, India, Northern Africa and Japan, including the first Moroccan Rasul spa experience in the United States. More than a treatment, Rasul is an Arabic cleansing ritual that exfoliates the skin and draws out impurities from the body. SPA at SETAI SAN DIEGO will offer an entirely organic full-bar and dining menu, highlighting the spa's special "Spatinis" and Blooming Tea Bar, where guests can sip on their choice of exotic and specialty teas.
Setai San Diego guests can also experience the hotel's 7,000 square foot pool deck. A large central teak bar, adjacent to the overflowing-edge pool, is surrounded by eight private cabanas, oversized beds and European style chaise lounges. The pool deck, bounded by delicate stone work, also offers a large covered VIP area with an expansive sake and wine bar and intimate lounge seating.

Lastly, Setai San Diego also features 20,000 square feet of high-end meeting room and event space, with such unique touches as a 32-seat private screening room and a professional recording studio. Smaller breakout rooms are flooded with natural light and views of Fifth Avenue, while the two-story Grand Ballroom -- with floor to ceiling windows overlooking Sixth Avenue -- offers the latest in technology, including ceiling projection, an audiofile sound system, and a suspension lift system capable of holding items of serious weight (signage, acrobats, displays, etc.). The entire space is sheathed in exotic woods, fabrics and textures, complementing the high-touch sensory aesthetic found throughout the hotel.

Located in the center of the financial district in downtown San Diego, Setai San Diego overlooks the historic Gaslamp Quarter, which offers dozens of restaurant, shopping and entertainment options, and is a short walk from both the San Diego Convention Center and Petco Park. Just minutes to San Diego's most popular attractions, including Symphony Hall, historic Balboa Theater, Sea World, Balboa Park, Old Town and the San Diego Zoo, Setai San Diego is also conveniently located a short drive away from San Diego's famous beaches.

Introductory rates start at $300 a night available now through March. For further information or to make a reservation, please visit www.setaisandiego.com or call 619.515.3000.